By Tupuola Terry Tavita

Opposition Tautua Party chairman Palusalue Faapo II has distanced his party from Satapuala village over the planned hospital at Faleolo.

Speaking this afternoon following a resolution by Parliament to refer A’ana No. III’s embattled MP Toesulusulu Cedric Schuster to the courts for possible charges over his role in last Friday’s road block, Palusalue said his party not only fully supports the hospital at Faleolo but any government development project on public lands.

“That is a given. We fully support the hospital because it’s a project that will benefit Satapuala, that region and the whole of Samoa,�? said Palusalue.

“We also fully support any well-meaning development project on public lands, including those at Satapuala, that will benefit the whole country.�?

However, Palusalue believes Parliament should not had referred the MP to the courts but, instead, passed the matter to the House’s standards and privileges committee.

Palusalue contends Tautua MP Toesulusulu has nothing to do with the road black.

“What silly MP urges his constituency, his village to break the law. Is it not an MP’s role to maintain peace and harmony in his district.�?

Meanwhile, Toesulusulu has declined any serious comment saying he is now tied down under Parliament and judicial laws.

“I can’t really say anything at the moment.�?

Asked whether there was any truth to the Prime Minister’s statement in Parliament this morning that Satapuala had been “over-compensated�? by the New Zealand government back in the 1940s, in an exchange of 865 acres for the airport’s location for 1070 acres where the village is now located, he also declined comment.

“These are part of matters that the Satapuala land committee and the government-appointed committee is negotiating.�?

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